AN: Thank you all for the kind words and reviews. In response to the question on whether or not I'll keep going... at this moment, I have no plans to keep going. As it happens, I wrote this chapter specifically to be the natural ending to the story.

That being the case, this story has taught me a lot as I was writing it, and I love it when a story does that. Also, my other huge story (A Terminator fic) started out as a oneshot, and then refused to let my brain go; so there's precedent. I never really shut the door on any characters I write or worlds I describe.

At this moment, I have no plans to keep going. Ask me again in ten minutes.

One last thing. The discerning reader will note that the story is now marked a Wheeler/Linka. I do that because it's canon, and now that it's finished, I'm pretty comfortable with how close to canon it is. Such as it is.

The helicopter flew at full speed toward the flood bank. The water was visible for a long way. The river was huge and raging, and curved down from the distant and shattered dams. They could see the path of the river; how it flowed naturally through the middle of the city… but now the river was so much heavier, so much faster…

At the edge of the city where the river began to wind its way through, they could see flood levies, still being constructed. A chain of people were handing sandbags up toward the river's edge frantically.

Kwame took in the scene. "The water won't overflow the sandbags."

Wheeler shook his head. "The weight of the water will."

Gi called forward. "Pilot! I need to get down there!"

There was no landing pad, so the helicopter came swooping in low enough for them to jump from the door to the ground. Gi jumped down first, and ran for the water levy.

Too late.

There was a creaking sound, and a spray of water came hissing out from between two sandbags, which quickly started to shift…

The crowd of frantic workers saw the spray and panicked, running away from the flood wall as fast as they could, desperate to escape the almost certain doom. And then, impossibly, Gi managed to fight her way through the crowd, going the other way…

Two things happened at the same time. Gi managed to get past the crowd, and the wall of sandbags ruptured, disintegrating under the unthinkable force of the rushing out of control river…

"WATER!"

The floodwater froze, hanging in midair. The rushing surge of water continued behind it, gathering mass. The water stayed, not getting an inch closer as the mass of it grew heavier and darker behind the invisible wall that Gi had created. It made an awe-inspiring sight, as a small young woman stood straight before the wave; holding her hand up like a traffic cop, the ring on her outstretched hand gleaming bright.

The rest of the team finally caught up with her, having shoved their way through the crowd; which had suddenly stopped running, staring with their jaws hanging open. The force of the water was going to destroy their city and tear down their flood-walls, and this small young woman had just made it pause in mid-air, by holding up her hand like a traffic cop.

The mass of the water was thicker still, the weight of it building up as it hung in the air; getting high enough that it dimmed the sunlight streaming through.

"If any of you are going to do something..." Gi hissed; eyes blazing with determination, her focus never leaving the hanging wave. "Do it. Now."

Kwame moved swiftly. "Earth!"

The ground shifted under the mass of water, a wave rolling out, away from the people. The surface of the floodwater seemed to bubble a bit, before a solid wall of earth exploded up at the line of sandbags, shoving the water back. The shifting ground made a natural flood levy; and the flood was held back.

Gi lowered her hand slowly, and the floodwater that had made it through fell to the ground, splashing down, leaving a curved open space around the Planeteers, now the only people in the way.

The flood had been checked, and what had made it through wasn't enough to do more than water the grass.

Linka climbed the flood levy and looked at the roaring current of water. "Wind!"

A huge wind kicked up, and blew low and fierce over the surface of the waves; pushing the waters back in a different direction.

The Planeteers climbed the dirt and rock to join her. "Well. We saved the city." Wheeler volunteered.

Linka glanced over her shoulder, and saw a crowd of people staring at them, some with television cameras. "And if there were any doubters left after Hope Island, I think we shut them up."

"We're not done yet though." Kwame said. "That floodwater will still have to go somewhere."

"What are the odds we can divert it back out to sea?" Gi asked.

"Pretty good. But you know something? That floodwater hasn't swept through the sewers and the treatment plants that it would have if it hit the city. So that water is still fairly clean, if a bit muddy. This country has been under drought for how long?"

"You think we can put this water to use?"

Kwame had the map out. "The dams are too far north. We'll never get this much water there without digging up half the country. But the agriculture is west, toward the riverbed. When it was running, that riverbed flows into the ocean."

The Planeteers grinned.

When they made it back to Hope Island, they discovered that the construction on their homes was well along. It was a bizarre mixture of homes, some seeming ultra-modern, others looking like something out of 'The Hobbit'.

Their families had been busy, directing the workers that remained to get it set up. They all had wind turbines and solar panels set up. Rainwater tanks were set up unobtrusively.

"That one's mine." Ma-Ti pointed to a bamboo hut, with thatched roof. "Just like home. A bit bigger though."

Gi pointed over to the other side. "That one's mine." Hers was a prefabricated home, turned to follow an east/west direction, with wind turbines mounted. "Gets round the clock sunlight, the walls are insulated and the windows double glazed. Natural heating that way."

Wheeler leaned over to Linka. "Let me guess. You've got the one with the skylights?"

Linka nodded easily. "Lots of natural light. The cold doesn't bother me. And let me guess, you've got the one with the roof garden?"

Wheeler nodded. "Natural insulation. Plus you see a lot of roof gardens in New York nowadays. Chicago too. I've always wanted to try one."

The helicopter landed, away from the houses, still mid construction. The Planeteers had a bit of walk, and spent it discussing future plans. Linka hung back a bit, wanting to talk to Wheeler about something.

"Did Kwame and Gi tell you their idea?" She asked finally.

"To bring in people and build Utopia here?" Wheeler asked. "Yeah. I have to admit, I don't really like the idea."

"Really? That surprises me. I would have thought you'd want an audience."

Wheeler chuckled. "Linka, right now we are five. If we make that five hundred… this place is just too nice to make it a town. We'll spoil it. Five of us can't do much damage. Five hundred… Since I left New York, I have seen thousands of miles of national park. I have seen Alaskan mountains. I have seen South American coves; I have seen Australian outback wilderness, and tropical islands. And the most amazing places had practically nobody living there. I just can't get the thought out of my head that we'd ruin it."

Silence.

"Well… that's the point." Linka said finally. "Everything you just said? About how it's beautiful until people ruin it? You can say that about everywhere in the world Yankee. That's the point of us. This isn't going to work if we pretend that nature is something that happens away from where we live. If we can't live clean here with a small group of people, how are we going to clean up the lives of everyone else?"

Wheeler was silent a moment. "Linka, I work in construction. I know how these things go. We start by building simple homes, then someone starts a family, has five kids, so we have to build a bigger home. We start by having houses in a circle like this, then we have more houses so we pave over the grass to have some good streets… We start by gathering food from the trees, and then we figure it'll stay fresh longer if we set up a supermarket or somewhere we can refrigerate it all… I don't know."

Linka nodded. "I agree. But… I don't know how long we'll be spending on this Island. Our mission is far from over. We'll be busy. And I don't want to send my grandmother back to the ice and mud back home. Especially when I don't know if that tornado I caused is going to toss poison into the river, or the air. I'd rather have them here where it's warm and fresh and new."

Wheeler sighed. "JJ wants to come out here. He heard our story. He wants to come on board. He doesn't have powers, but he wants to help. And apparently so do a lot of people."

"The island is certainly big enough."

"Yeah. In fact, we don't really know what's past the mountain. Lot of trees around there, and the Navy flights couldn't get a look under the canopy." The cynicism just flooded away from Wheeler as he started to get excited. "I was thinking, I could burn a neat path through from us to the fruit groves. We do it neat enough and we can get a cart through there if we want to; and we wouldn't have to pave anything over. We wouldn't have to slog our way through to forage. Plus, the other side of that forest is the rest of the Island. We should probably explore the rest of it, and once the buildings are set up I can-"

"Whoa. Hold up." Linka just looked at him. "What's gotten into you?"

"Oh come on Linka!" Wheeler insisted. "This is awesome. We're pioneers in a New World! The old west was nothing on this!"

"Yeah!"

Both of them turned and found that Ruby had managed to sneak up on them.

"Pioneers! Brave Explorers! Cowboys! Me too!" The girl chirped away.

Ruby had been following Linka and Wheeler around in turns like a puppy. She was full of questions about the trip all the way back to the houses. She tilted her head back and looked up at Wheeler's. "Why is there a handrail around your roof?"

Wheeler looked up and grinned. "Ah, well. Come and see."

Linka's Grandmother was in the vegetable gardens. Each house had one. Linka set down her backpack and picked up some tools to help her as Wheeler left, little Ruby in tow. "You're smiling." Alana commented to Linka.

Linka wiped the smile off her face instantly. "No I'm not."

"Yes you are."

"No I'm not."

"Tell that to your face."

"I had to sneeze." Linka insisted.

Linka! Ma-Ti's voice called. There's a call for you.

Gi smiled a little as she walked toward her own new house. "Alana told me that Ruby has been really depressed before she came here."

"Losing your family does that." Kwame said plainly. "I'm glad that we could help."

"Save the world and make the kids laugh?"

"Something like that."

Gi gestured at her newly built eco-home. "Come inside a minute?"

Kwame nodded, and followed her in. The style was modern, but still Japanese. The doors all slid like screens instead of hinges, light construction materials, rooms that could be adapted to any function, plenty of natural light. "What do you think?"

"Nice." Kwame said, suddenly aware that he was alone with Gi.

"A little plain, I know." Gi offered. "But I don't really have a lot of stuff to clutter it up with yet." She hefted her bag and took out a woven strip; somewhere between a large scarf and an ornamental drapery, beautifully hand-woven and full of rich colors. "One of the people in Carpania gave me this. Said it was a thank you for our help."

Silence.

"You hear about the call to address the UN?" Gi asked.

"I heard. Don't know if anything will come of it."

"What would you say?"

Kwame jerked. "Who said I would be the one to speak?"

"You're our-"

"Don't say it!" Kwame warned her, not really upset. "I don't know how that happened, but I remember nobody asked me if I wanted to be in charge."

Gi smirked. "You would rather Wheeler be our Team Captain?"

Kwame laughed, and suddenly turned around to see Gi standing a good deal closer.

She smiled, a little shyly. "Maybe we didn't pick you exactly... but we did pick the right person." And with that, she slid her hands up around his neck, leaning in gently for a kiss.

And Kwame pulled back.

Gi froze, mortified. "I... I'm sorry..." She scurried back away from him. "I... I thought..."

Kwame was equally mortified. "Gi... it's not that I don't..."

She was already turning to run, and Kwame flashed a and out and caught her wrist. "WAIT!" He almost yelled. "Just let me talk for a minute, will you?"

Gi froze. Kwame didn't snap at people. Not ever.

"And where exactly was it decided that the Planeteers were meant to pair up like animals into the Ark anyway?" Kwame snapped.

Gi bowed her head, looking down. "I'm sorry." She whispered. "I thought... I thought that you were..."

Kwame seemed more annoyed than she had ever seen him. "Seriously. We were pulled together to do a job Gi. A job that has proven to be genuinely life-threatening! This isn't about... We weren't set up on a cosmic dating service Gi, we're an Army. We have exactly five soldiers. Just because Wheeler and Linka have been slow-dancing around each other..."

Gi was beyond mortified, actually crying now. Kwame was mad at her. Kwame didn't get mad, but he was mad at her. "I'm sorry. Can we just forget it? Forget we ever came in here?" She suddenly looked up, furious. "Actually no! No we can't just forget about it. Damn it Kwame, where do you get off being pissed at me? I told you that I care about you. I've never told anyone that before. I told you that I didn't have anyone back in Japan. You had to know what it meant to me!"

Kwame actually looked angry. "Gi... you held my hand when my sister died. What exactly do you think that makes us?"

Gi glared furiously at him.

There was a knock at the door.

Both of them were breathing hard, getting themselves under control after the intensely awkward moment. Gi looked a question at Kwame. Ready?

Kwame nodded, calm again.

Gi opened the door, and Linka came in. She seemed worried by something. "You guys, we got a call over the radio... From my parents. They want to talk to you."

"Go ahead Agent Petrova, we can hear you." Kwame called into the radio.

"I wanted to double check something in your statement." Linka's father called through. "In Alaska, you said you met with a Park Ranger?"

Gi nodded, leaning in to the radio, pointedly staying away from Kwame as much as she could. "His name was Dennis. Dennis Edger."

They heard a sigh come over the radio. "Thought so."

Linka leaned over and took the radio off Kwame. "What's wrong dad?"

Beat.

"We took all your statements, and took a bunch of keywords from it, so that we could flag any news stories or official reports that might relate to you." Stephan explained. "One of those keywords was flagged this morning. Dennis Edger... is dead. He was found in what was left of his Quarters at the Ranger Station in ANWR. It looks like suicide."

Gi reacted like a kick to the head. "No. No, he wouldn't do that!"

"Gi, the Ranger Station was burned to the ground. His computer was destroyed, so was his equipment, his phone..."

"Anything that could keep a record of what we talked about when we were there." Linka finished quietly.

Gi looked helplessly at the radio. "But... But why? He wasn't with us. We just... met him on the trip!"

"His mailbox had a subpoena... from us." Stephan explained. "He was there when you got your first phone-call from Stumm." Stephan paused. "Allegedly got the phone call from... well. The mail was unopened. He didn't even know he was still in this up to his neck. Someone who saw the subpoena list must have talked. We're running that down now, and sending protection for the others on the list. But... the last connection between you and any member of The Corporation not already in custody is gone."

Gi felt tears welling in her eyes. "We killed him. We killed him!" She looked thickly at Kwame. "You were right!"

Kwame reached a hand out to Gi, to comfort her. She shied away swiftly. Linka noted that without a word, and took the radio back. "Well, thanks for letting us know."

"Sorry I don't have better news for you." Stephan said regretfully. "Oh, by the way Linka, I got someone to take a look at the river and air samples from the... former site of The Corporation's Chemical Plant."

Linka brightened and sat down to talk about it. Kwame tapped Gi's shoulder, and gestured for her to follow him. She did so.

Kwame led them around the side of the tent, where they could speak privately. "I'm sorry about before." Kwame said quietly. "I reacted badly."

Gi nodded. "No. It's my fault. I never should have... You were right. This isn't a dating service, we're here to do a job, and the stakes are too high for us to risk screwing it up." She nodded slowly. "We killed Dennis. We brought him into our world, and it cost him his life."

"They killed him Gi. The bad guys. The ones we dealt a blow against. The ones that are scared of us and what we know. That's why he's dead. Do not, Do Not, DO NOT blame yourself for the evil that others do." He told her seriously.

Gi nodded. Kwame held his arms open, and this time she willingly let him give her a hug.

"That isn't the reason why I pulled away." Kwame said finally. "I mean, it's a good reason, but it's not the only one."

Gi smirked sarcastically. "Oh, so you have a long list of reasons to avoid dating me? That makes me feel much better."

Kwame grit his teeth. "Gi... I lost my whole family to AIDS. You think dating someone is an easy thing for me? It's not."

Gi felt her jaw drop. "Kwame... What exactly did you think was going to happen before Linka knocked? I wasn't suggesting we just..."

"I know that! I'm just saying, it's a life and death roll of the dice where I come from. And pretty much all of the victims were just people who wanted to get close to someone, like my parents, or were born with a death sentence, like my sister. I have lived my whole life with the stigma. People back home knew about my sister, and assumed I got it from my parents too. One way or another, I avoided the whole topic. So when I suddenly get faced with the prospect of someone who wants to..." He lost his nerve suddenly. "You caught me by surprise, and I reacted poorly. Can you forgive me?"

During this little speech, Gi's eyes were getting wider and wider. The thought simply hadn't occurred to her. "My god... Kwame, I swear, I didn't even think of any of that..."

"I know you didn't... but it's a fact." Kwame scrubbed his face for a moment."But that's not the main reason either! Because I know you're don't have..."

"What then?" Gi demanded. "Kwame, just spit it out will you!"

"Look... I won't say I'm not interested. Because I am. We work together, I can get over that. It's a risk, but of course I can get over that..." He said, searching for words. "But... My life's stopped making all sense Gi. This feels right. You and me. But I don't know where I am right now. I'm suddenly the last of my family, I'm leading a band of superheroes, to say nothing of the fact that we're overnight global celebrities... I don't know what I think about anything right now. I have a mission. It's the only thing I can make sense of; so I'm holding on to that for dear life..."

Gi nodded. "I know... Kwame, I wanted to kiss you, and it was the first thing in my life where I didn't stop to think about it. If I stopped and thought about it, I never would have tried. My life's turned on it's head too. But... There's a half-life to these things. If we wait too long to see where this goes, we never will."

"I understand." Kwame said, holding her hands in his gently. "Gi... We have a pretty big job to do. It has to take priority, but I do want to make time for you, because... The feeling is mutual. I want this... I just don't know if I can, or should right now."

Gi smiled, and gave him a quick hug, like friends do. "I understand. If you want to hold off on anything else till we get this crusade going properly, it's probably a pretty smart move, and... it's time to start being smart about things, so I can wait." She pulled back enough to look him in the eye with a smile. "But you can't really take my patience for granted. Promise you won't forget about me?"

Kwame hugged her back. "Promise."

Ruby followed Wheeler around the side of the house and found a ladder set into the wall. She climbed it, and beamed. "Flowers!"

Wheeler climbed up beside her and chuckled. "It's called a roof garden. Keeps the house warm in winter and cool in summer."

The Roof garden was small. It had little room for much expect a patch of thick green grass and two rows of flowerbeds on each side of it.

Ruby sank down in the grass next to Wheeler, who stretched out on his back like he was at a picnic. They watched the clouds for a while.

"What are the flowers called?" Ruby asked.

"Violets." Wheeler told her. "They were my mom's favorite."

"Where's your mom now?" Ruby asked, running her fingers through the grass.

"She died, years ago."

Ruby looked sad. "My mommy died too. And my daddy."

Wheeler looked at the kid sympathetically. "Not fair, is it?"

Ruby shook her head. "I miss them."

Wheeler reached out and picked a few violets, threading the stems together. "My mom liked violets. She liked French fries, she liked dancing. I try to keep all the favorite things around; so that I only think of the best things about her." The three stems were now woven into a braid, and slid the stems into Ruby's hair like a hair-clip. "She would have liked you."

Ruby smiled a little. "We don't have a lot of flowers back home. Everywhere we can grow… we put food."

Wheeler nodded. He slid a seed packet out of his pocket, and put it into her hand. "Then take these." He gestured around the roof garden, and then tapped the packet in her hand. "I have five violet plants. You have fifty."

Ruby smiled and put the packet away carefully.

Wheeler ruffled her hair a little. "We better get back to ground level before Linka gets jealous."

Ruby giggled.

Wheeler! Ma-Ti's voice rolled through his mind. I hate to interrupt you while you suck up to Linka's family, but you had better get to a TV. The Corporation is making a statement.

BREAKING NEWS:

In response to mounting pressure to take action; Corporation CEO Vernan Stumm made the following statement:

"With the recent intrusion of the now famous Planeteers, into our perfectly legal and publicly known enterprises, we have been receiving pressure from our shareholders to take action to protect their investments.

I personally have much to thank them for, and have been deeply conflicted in what to do. But news out of South America has made it clear to all, that the Planeteers are here to stay; and they're here to help.

It's no secret that Global issues, such as the Environment and the Economy have been teetering on a knife's edge. Every hurricane that gets stronger has forced us to balance our responsibilities to our employees and our customers, with the responsibility we have to the Planet, and the future.

In times of great economic uncertainty, we at The Corporation have been able to endure through our numbers. The rest of the world is not so lucky. We know how difficult it can be to make it on your own.

Nor are we blind to the perilous situation that our world finds itself in. We have, till now, resisted the temptation to pull others into our already large family, for fear of spreading ourselves too thin and doing greater damage to the world.

But now, thanks to the involvement of five truly extraordinary young people, we no longer have to fear the dangerous results of Climate Change, and we cannot thank the Planeteers enough for protecting us as we expand our production, bringing necessary products to more people than ever before!

With the Planeteers to bend the forces of nature itself to the benefit of all mankind, we no longer have to fear the effects of ecological disaster, and the Corporation is free to do everything in its power to spread wealth and prosperity to those in need.

"To that end, it is my very great pleasure to announce the opening of seven new production plants across the continental US, as well as the construction of new power plants across the third world. These sites will provide power to the poorest nations in the world, and our investments will pay for everything, giving us the chance to expand our coal mining and power-"

Kwame turned the television off mid-sentence.

The Planeteers just stared at the blank screen, stricken.

"You were right Wheeler." Kwame said quietly. "The only way we can win, is if we become the bad guys. Anything less just helps them."

Silence.

"No." Wheeler said finally. "I wasn't right. Gi was right. By doing this ourselves, we have to make our people worthy."

Lizzie was watching the Press Conference fade into a Q and A session on the TV in her office. Some reporter was asking about the effect of the Coal plants on the air quality in the Third World; and Stumm was passing that off as a problem for Linka to solve. Just then, her private line rang. With a victorious smile, she muted the TV and hit the speaker. "Thirty five seconds since the press conference drafted you, what kept you?"

"We were busy wondering when this got so complicated."

"Should have pulled a Superman, and let the press pick names for you."

"Well, that ship sailed. All those invites for personal appearances? We've been going through them. Gi's willing to do the MIT Conference, Kwame's willing to address the UN... anything else?"

"How about a personal feature? We can do an interview, with any reporter you want. You make a statement, all of it to tape. No character assassinations, no crowds, just you telling your story."

"Well... that's the thing."

"What?"

"This isn't our story. It's everyone's. We need to make everyone realize that."

Wheeler spoke to her for several minutes before he hung up and came out to join them. "She's going to set some things up."

Weather on the island had been pretty good so far. Their eco-homes were being built in a semi-circle. in the middle of that semi-circle was something of a 'Town Square', where they sat or stretched out, or gathered around a bonfire, or ate a meal.

In this case, they held a meeting. The Planeteers were gathered around the fire, sketching out what they were going to say, what they were trying to get across. Gi and Linka had pads on their laps, scribbling furiously as Wheeler came back to join them. As he approached, the bonfire flared up a little brighter spontaneously.

"Lizzie's setting some things up." Wheeler reported. "So. Once we've got everyone's attention, what do we say?"

Silence.

"Everything I come up with sounds so... preachy." Gi said finally, tapping the pad. "Truth is, people have heard it all before. What are we supposed to tell them that they don't already know and ignore?"

Silence.

Finally, Ma-Ti spoke. "When we first met, Gaia spoke to us. She said that 'Ignorance can be fought with knowledge; despair can be overthrown by hope'. She said she would send a message; a warning, an invitation, and a demonstration. A Deceleration of Power. A Notice of Intent. We don't have to tell them anything new. We are the difference between a statement and a Rallying Cry."

"So what then? What do we say?"

Kwame took the pad of Gi, turned it over so that the clear side of the paper was up, and then he wrote on it in black marker, showing them the result. "How about this?"

Everyone read it and grinned. It was the last thing Gaia had told them before sending them out on their mission.

'The Power is Yours!'

Karen Gillys was thrilled beyond words when she got the call. After actually being on the ship where the Planeteers were temporarily staying, she had been raked over the coals by her superiors when they managed to get off the ship without so much as an interview. Her years of devoted loyalty apparently meant nothing, and she was on the verge of losing her job when Lizzie Quinn had placed a call, and Karen was suddenly the only reporter in the world being offered an exclusive with any of the Planeteers.

She and her cameraman went to New York, to the now former home of 'Wheeler' Johnston, and the interview with him and Linka began. Karen was seeing a Pulitzer with her name on it.

The interview was in its third hour. At this point it was close to a miniseries in the making, and Karen was dying. The background on them and their families was interesting... but they refused to confirm or deny any of the current theories on where their abilities came from; the story about the Rig had been done to death; the parts about who the bad guys were would never get past the lawsuits long enough to go to air. Kwame, Gi and Ma-Ti were off across the world doing... whatever it was Planeteers did, and Linka and Wheeler were now leading them through Wheeler's New York apartment, giving her a list of ways to help the environment. The tell-all interview was approaching a run of the mill eco-documentary.

Linka moved to the kitchen. She gestured for the camera to follow her, and then opened up the cupboard under the sink. "Cleaning supplies all have natural alternatives, most of which you have in your kitchen already. Bicarbonate of soda, lemon juice and diluted white vinegar all work as natural stain removers. You won't have to buy any chemical stain removers in stores, which may not sound like a big saving, but over the years it adds up, to say nothing of how much safer and healthier it is to have fewer chemical agents in your home." She checked the shelves again. "Good grief Wheeler, don't you ever clean out these cupboards? Is this Salsa, or a science experiment?"

"Can I ask one thing though?" Karen interrupted. "You guys have managed to redraw the world map, and now you're talking about household cleaning supplies. I don't see the connection. Don't you think you should be focusing on the big things?"

"We are." Wheeler said seriously. "We are trying to turn over a deeply entrenched way of thinking. Fifteen hundred years ago, it was an accepted fact that the earth was the center of the universe. A few hundred years ago, it was an accepted fact that the earth was flat. The world never changed, we just started to notice. Sixty years ago, the best medical advice said that a healthy breakfast involved pancakes, eggs, lots of bacon, lots of butter... Fifty years ago, cigarettes were considered to be good for your blood pressure, good for nerves, highly recommended by doctors. And thirty years ago, it was an accepted fact that Global Warming was nothing to worry about, and 'Climate Change' wasn't even a phrase. A lot of people still believe that Climate Change is a hoax, or at least that it's natural, and nothing to do with us."

"Every one of those changes were hugely controversial." Linka put in. "People are still arguing about what a healthy diet is, or how much damage cigarettes can do to your health. Galileo was put under arrest for suggesting the earth went around the sun."

"Hope Island was our 'coming out party'. It was us announcing to the world that we are here. It was a way of getting your attention. Vanishing glaciers, drying up rivers, hurricanes and floods and droughts and food shortages don't seem to be dramatic enough. That was our arrival; and this is our message: Change or Die. It can be done, but it's never been done before. Not like this. We are trying to overturn strong opinions, and convince people that the earth is round. And that's why we're in here talking about household cleaning supplies."

"This is about more than action; it's about education too." Linka explained. "People can argue all they want about how much oil is left, and how long it will last, but the truth is; they're not just using it in their cars. The world's resources are being used by everyone, so everyone has to take a measure of responsibility. Oil goes into plastics, insecticides, cleaning chemicals, paints, rubber, furniture… when it runs out, we'll be looking for more than just a way to make our cars work. Our whole civilization uses fossil fuels as its core." She gestured at the bags in the rubbish, the bottles on the shelves. "Every year, four to five trillion plastic bags get used worldwide. They get used for minutes, and last for centuries. They cannot be burned without poisoning the air, they leech chemicals into the ground. Every square mile of ocean has forty six thousand piece of plastic in it."

"That's great; we'll cut to footage of the ocean there, let Gi take over for a while." Karen said, not letting the frustration show on her face. "Let's take a break."

Linka visibly relaxed. She still wasn't comfortable on camera.

"Keep rolling." Karen whispered to her cameraman, who held the camera on his hip, still pointed at them. "You know..." She said to the two Planeteers. "...this feature is supposed to be as much about you as it is about your cause."

"Well... that's nice, but there's not really much to say about us. Nothing as important anyway."

"Nothing important? Any world map drawn before last week is suddenly flat wrong." Karen exclaimed. "The last guy who could say that was... who? Magellan? Columbus? You aren't going to make your case by playing down how different you guys are. You make this about turning your lights off, and it's just another environmental message. You guys have your own hook. Your power speaks for itself."

"Well then, what would you like us to say?"

"Tell us about you. About how this started. About how your abilities work."

Wheeler and Linka traded a glance. "I'm sorry, but we've already been put through nine kinds of hell trying to keep that under wraps." Wheeler shook his head.

"Well... then tell us about you. About how you're adjusting to being such superstars. It can't be easy on you. I've had A List celebrities telling me how hard it is to carry on relationships under a microscope."

"Relationship?" Linka repeated.

"Well, rumor is there is one." Karen pointed out. "Any truth to the rumor?"

"You bet." "No way." Wheeler and Linka said in the same breath, suddenly trying to talk over each other.

"She's really quite shameless."

"In his little dreams."

"She just can't help herself."

"He comes with bad references."

"She has such warm lips."

"He's mentally disturbed."

"She's really a brunette."

Linka spun around and swatted him hard.

Karen didn't even smile. "Actually, I was referring to the rumors about Kwame and Gi."

Dead silence.

"You'd have to ask them." Wheeler said finally.

"Yeah. I'll go with that." Linka said, mortified.

"You guys really need to take this act on the road." Karen grinned, dollar signs appearing in her eyes.

"Can we get back to work now?"

"If you like."

"How about the garden?" Linka suggested to Wheeler.

"Mm." Wheeler led the way through the apartment to the room filled with plants.

Karen gestured to her cameraman who hoisted the camera back up to his shoulder as they passed through. "Wow!" She blurted. "This is definitely not standard in Brooklyn apartments."

"No indeed." Wheeler agreed.

"I don't see a lot of yard tools tough."

"I salvaged the whole lot of it. The pots are bits and pieces out of my garbage, plastic bottles and such, they're fixed to the wall with fishing line I had left over from our last family fishing trip, the shovels were from my neighbors, and the seeds were all collected from fruit and veg I got at the supermarket, the dirt from Central Park, and the dirt is composted from stuff straight out of my kitchen waste. I never spent a dime on any of it. Well, one or two of the pots."

"That's pretty impressive."

"It's not that difficult. Seriously, more than half of garbage you throw away is food scraps. I'd rather it be put to use than stuck in a landfill." Wheeler gestured out the window. "I'm New York City born and raised. And New York makes nine billion pounds of garbage every year. The sheer number of times this city has been hit by garbage strikes and landfill fees..."

"True enough. If I may, that's like the fifth time you guys have underlined the financial benefits of living green."

"Yeah. People react better to practical reasons than noble ones. Plus, somehow the idea got around that trying to save the environment is bad for the economy, or more expensive for the average home. And that's just not true. Greed brought down Wall Street once, and there are many thousands of people who are still trying madly to get back on their feet. More greed won't get us back where we were."

Linka piped up at that point. "I come from a very poor community. We have to grow our own food, because the store won't be stocked for months at a time. We teach our own kids because there's no school open nearby, and we can't go elsewhere because there's nowhere else for most of us to go." Linka seemed to struggle for a moment, not one to talk about herself much. "In my town; the average income is nothing a month. I've been cold and hungry for decades, and I know how hard it is to concern yourself with the larger problems of the world when it's so hard to scrape through a day. But you can help the world, and help yourselves too. Keep doors shut through the house. Less airflow means more insulation. Shut the curtains. A fifth of the homes heat can be lost through the windows. Taping a sheet of bubble wrap over a window you don't spend much time looking through is a cheap and easy alternative to double-glazing. Ensure there are no cracks or gaps in old wooden doors. You can do this simply by painting them. Eat hot meals rather than cold food. The best way to keep warm is to be warm. Exercise regularly. The better your circulation, the warmer you feel. For cooler days, a layer of clothing will help more than a space heater. Curl up with a warm quilt; it'll help as much as an electric blanket."

Wheeler couldn't help himself. "Sharing body heat is a good step too. Linka and I can vouch for that!"

Karen laughed at that, and Linka whirled. "He's lying! That's not true!"

Wheeler took up the narrative. "When I'm in a supermarket, they ask me: Paper of Plastic? And the best choice is neither. Reusable cloth bags are easy to find. Paper bags are made from torn down trees, and take power and water and time and energy to recycle. Plastic bags are made from oil. Something I didn't know, is that most plastic that goes into recycling bins can't actually be recycled. Only a few type of plastic are actually recyclable. If you can, buys your milk and other drinks in glass bottles. They may be more breakable, but can be recycled much easier."

"Hold on... Paper bags aren't good for the environment?" Karen asked suddenly, surprised by that. "I always use paper."

"Yeah. That took me by surprise too, and the 'Paper or Plastic' debate is the tiniest bit of things you should think about in supermarkets. Don't be afraid to grow your own food. Especially in cities. When I started this garden up, I found this website called the Hundred Mile Diet. Fascinating idea. These people only eat food grown or produced within a hundred miles of their homes. I gave it a try; and it's actually pretty cool. Food gets shipped an enormous distance to get into supermarkets. That's why I grow my own. I know it sounds like a lot of hard work, and it is. But most of it is maintenance. Once it starts growing, it doesn't need your help. Veg in supermarkets get harvested from a huge farm on the other side of the world, flash frozen on the spot and shipped around in trucks and planes and cargo freighters. The freshest fruit and veg a supermarket will give you are already months old. Even if it's only a little bit, even if it's only a hobby, you'll never believe how satisfying it is to do it yourself. It's a great project to get your kids into, and it'll be good for them to know that food doesn't come from the store spontaneously." Wheeler explained, handing Linka a strawberry.

Karen took one too. "You understand that a lot of the things you're talking about are controversial."

"We have no illusions about what reaction will be." Linka assured her. "Supermarkets provide a lot of food to a lot of people. And that's a good thing. A lot of it is more varied and more affordable. That's a very good thing. All we're saying is: You need to pay attention. Look at where the food you eat comes from, think about how it's made, about where it grows, about how it gets to you. Too many people just go to these big chains to save the extra fifty cents on milk and never ask why."

"I looked into it, and that's why I started growing my own." Wheeler said. "Aside for just being fresh, it's good for the community too. It takes a huge amount of fuel and power and money to bring those supplies around the world; and keep them frozen and stored. Locally grown food is fresher, closer; usually a lot cheaper depending on what you buy and where; and it comes direct from privately owned farms to you. Small Local Markets can be found most places in the world, even in cities. You just have to look for them."

The reporter bit into the small fruit. "Huh. You can taste the difference can't you?"

"You can." Wheeler agreed. "Here's something Gi told me that I didn't know before: Small farms produce more food per acre than the huge mass production farms; and they use a lot less water and chemicals. Agriculture is the biggest source of water waste and soil erosion in the US."

"Speaking of Gi, where is she? I thought she was going to be here tonight."

"Something came up." Linka grinned. "Turn on your TV tonight, you'll find out."

BREAKING NEWS:

There was much rejoicing today in Uganda when Water Planeteer Gi Takashi appeared, without warning or invitation. Many hundreds of people were lining up to access the water wells in the area. Witness reports say that Miss Takashi simply raised her hand, and water came rushing up from the deep wells, no need to draw it. Everyone lining up had brought large buckets or pots to draw well water into, but amazing at it seems, the water seemed to "leap up out of the wells and fly into the assembled containers." Thousands of people were thrilled to find that their wait was over. It was at this point when Takashi addressed the assembled crowds, and the press that arrived on the scene soon after.

"I will admit to some bias on the subject of water." Gi said. "But please remember, that Water itself is the lifeblood of the planet, and it too is running out. I was privileged to live in a place where water can be brought directly to me. For those watching at home, remember please that over one and a half billion people like these people right here, do not have clean water, and even the dirty dangerous kind takes them hours to gather. In the UK, less than one percent of clean drinkable tap water is actually used in cooking or cleaning. The rest goes into washing, industrial uses, or any number of other things that don't require drinking quality water. The earth is seventy percent water. Less than one percent of it is usable. In the US, trillions of gallons of clean safe water every year goes into flushing your toilets."

The assembled called out in agreement.

"Climate Change is making changes to the water cycle. The standard rainfall patters have shifted. Where once fresh rainwater fell into rivers and dams, now it falls over oceans, away from where we can use it. That's a problem that will take a lot of work to fix. Waterways have a phenomenal ability to heal themselves, but only if we give them a chance. Water can be recycled too. Greywater is not drinking quality, but can be treated and reused in your own home. Used for watering your gardens, flushing your toilet, or washing your car. Rainwater catchments can collect water that falls from the sky, at no charge. Water that would otherwise go straight from the gutters into the drains can be put to work. Rainwater has been used for washing and drinking for thousands of years before pipes and dams came along; and it's still perfectly good to drink now. Methods for making your home more water-tight, so to speak, are all commercially available. Help save trillions of gallons of something that we cannot live without. And like a lot of eco-investments, they save you money in the long term. If we're lucky, in the very long term. The Power Is Yours!"

BREAKING NEWS:

Tensions were running high in the Amazon today, as the Planeteers were spotted at the edge of the forest, as the loggers approached the area at the start of the work day. Once they were recognized, work was suspended, and the logging camp evacuated over concerns for worker safety.

The Planeteers took no action, and warned that any attempts to continue logging would be stopped. The loggers agreed that the risk to worker safety was too great, and the logging operations were suspended until further notice.

Corporation CEO Vernan Stumm responded with this statement:

"We're grateful to the Planeteers for what they've done for the world so far, and of course I am personally grateful to them for revealing the illegal activities that my predecessor started. But the camp is not an illegal activity, and the workers are all on hold. It is in poor taste for the Planeteers to threaten honest workers; many of whom have families to feed, and we are considering our response."

BREAKING NEWS:

The 'Plant A Billion Trees' project got a huge boost this morning by the surprise inclusion of Planeteers Kwame Deka and Linka Petrova. Witnesses say that the Planeteers lined people up with saplings in hand, and Mr Deka commanded a long narrow trench to open in the ground. The volunteers simply lowered the saplings into the trench, and it closed neatly around them.

Through the Plant a Billion Trees campaign, the Nature Conservancy is working with local partners to plant one billion trees by 2015 in Brazil's Atlantic Forest—one of the world's most endangered tropical forests; in an attempt to reverse the destruction of the wildlife and ecosystem. So far, close to nine and a half million trees have been planted by voluntary efforts, and there is still a long way to go. It successful, the project will remove close to 4 million tones of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year.

After joining the volunteer effort for several hours, Miss Petrova and Mr Deka addressed the assembled crowd and press.

"Trees are nature's great weapon against climate change." Kwame said. "Forests are the lungs of the earth. They are the only reason we don't walk outside one morning and discover there's no air left for us to breathe. But they're disappearing at the rate of thousands of square miles at a time. Ask any smoker what happens when you damage your lungs, and imagine everyone on earth having that problem." Kwame said. "Trees are the only plants that can effectively clean the air. Planting more trees is a serious method of combating rising carbon dioxide levels."

"And we aren't the only ones that think so." Linka piped up. "There have been many volunteer efforts, both in the private sector and in government. The target is to plant a billion trees in this place alone. Planting more is good. But the truth is that these trees are new and young. The huge leafy trees that have lived for centuries are much better at providing oxygen for us. But these big, mature trees are disappearing."

"Sustainable methods for wood harvesting have already been proven." Kwame added. "Clear cutting a forest to nothing you can only do once. Taking one in four trees selectively leaves plenty of trees to grow, and to protect newly planted saplings, while still providing air for us to breathe, and food and homes for animals. Such methods have been proven to provide plenty of wood, leaving the mother trees intact. Newly planted trees have bigger ones to protect them and to keep the ecosystem alive while they grow. And not a one of the companies using these methods went out of business, because they still had trees to cut down, whereas clear-cutters had nothing left in their wake."

"Cutting down trees for use as firewood, or building materials, or whatever else, has been done forever. Taking them all at once is a product of the last two hundred years." Linka finished. "Doing so responsibly is not a bad idea economically, because it lets any woodcutting business continue into the future."

"For all that, the best way to save trees is to make their use unnecessary. The people who cut down forests don't do it for fun, they do it for profit. Everyone in America receives, on average, two trees worth of junk mail a year. If they recycled, or better, put a 'No Junk Mail' sign on their mailbox, that would be hundreds of millions of trees that never need to be cut down in the first place. Recycling is good, conserving is better. And you can do that easily. A small action can create a huge result. The Power Is Yours."

Kwame, Ma-Ti and Gi met up on the way to New York. Linka and Wheeler met them at the airport. They met on the tarmac to keep away from the reporters, though the crowd of them was thinning out more with each visit to the airport.

The door to the plane opened, and Gi and Kwame came out first, apparently mid argument. Ma-Ti was right behind them, doing his best to go unnoticed.

"No!" Gi yelled. "I'm back in New York now! I have human rights again! I am no longer strapped down in a plane next to the pouty Planeteer from hell!"

"I do not pout!" Kwame snapped.

"One time! I said he had a nice smile one time; and I get stuck with you all the way back to America!"

"What can I say? I didn't realize just how impatient you could be." Kwame commented blandly.

Gi gave him a look that would have stripped paint. "I would punch you so hard right now if I didn't think it would get put on Youtube somehow."

Wheeler grinned up at them. "Really you two, these public displays of affection have got to stop."

Gi smiled in open relief. "Wheeler! A friend at last!"

"What happened?" Linka asked.

"The missions were a big success, and then I happened to mention that one of the UN Peacekeepers had a nice smile. Kwame didn't say a civilized word for two thousand miles."

"He was all over you!" Kwame retorted.

"Kwame, is that jealousy I hear in your voice?" Wheeler mocked. "I thought you were above petty human emotions like that!"

"It was quite a trip." Ma-Ti commented solemnly to Linka as they headed for the car.

"It's not over yet." Linka assured him. "There's been an interesting development."

"Well, it seems you're getting attention." Lizzie told them on the latest of many conference calls from her office to all of them across the world. "The press love this. They never know where you're going to pop up next. You're either helping little old ladies across the street, or you're destroying earth-movers with fire from the sky. They love this."

"They do?"

"No news like controversial news. You guys are part Resistance Fighters, part X-Men, part Mother Theresa. There's no stopping you."

Kwame's voice came next. "One way or another, the stalemate can't last. Sooner or later someone will want to put a stop to us."

"There are already feelers out to do just that, but you're getting enough good attention that nobody wants to make a move first."

"How long will that last?"

"Probably not long, but the requests for personal appearances keep coming in. The UN wants Kwame to make an appearance again."

"Really?" Kwame blurted. "I thought our invitation got rescinded after we shut down the logging operation."

"It was, but it's sort of a Robin Hood syndrome, you see. As long as you guys keep giving to the poor, nobody cares that you rob from the rich. The offer is back on the table. It'll be fully televised, worldwide attention. The powers that be want to be able to get a little credit along the way."

"Accept the invitation. Make sure there are people watching."

The crowd was huge and cheering when The Planeteers arrived at the UN, under armed escort. The police were trying to force the crowd back before they crushed him. There was no way to get them all inside, but Liz had worked some magic with the news and made provision for huge screens to be set up outside, giving the whole crowd a clear view.

The news ran reaction shots, showing the faces in the crowd as Kwame stepped up to address the UN, and indeed the whole world; this being the first public statement the Planeteers had made. But the better reactions came from the delegates as he spoke.

"Before I begin, I would like to thank you for letting me speak to this privileged company. By now, I'm sure you're aware that the diligent services of your translators, are not necessary." Kwame smiled serenely. "Is anyone having any trouble understanding me?"

A quiet roar went around the UN as the delegates and ambassadors checked with each other, and found themselves stunned to discover that they could all understand him perfectly without translation.

The other four Planeteers, seated behind him, traded sly looks with Ma-Ti.

"When we first announced our appearance to the world, with the creation of Hope Island, there were many who were concerned of our intentions. And it's easy to understand why. We are something new. But the 'new' is not such a terrifying proposition as it once was.

"We need to embrace that constant march toward the future, and ensure that there is a future to March to. The Planeteers have announced their presence, demonstrated their power, and now we declare our intent. We are not the enemy. And we do not posses weapons of Mass Destruction. We are something infinitely more powerful. We are Weapons of Creation."

The crowd murmured a little at that.

"And we are needed." Kwame intoned.

"In 2011, Australia was hit with a massive flood, which left much of its northern state of Queensland underwater. This was considered to be a once-a-century event. Something that happens every hundred years. The latest studies suggest that with rising sea levels, massive changes to weather patterns, and climate changes in general, this might quickly become an annual, yearly event. How many warnings do we need?" Kwame called. It was a call to arms. "We have power, but we are only five. There are things we cannot do. And this is for the ultimate prize. We need everyone to be on board.

"And that's the most important part. The world has woken up to the notion at there's a crisis at hand. Every hurricane gets stronger, every drought gets longer. Floods are breaking out across the world. This isn't a coincidence. The problem is us! Right now, we're telling you what you can do. You need to tell your children. Tell your neighbors. Tell your co-workers. You've got to get involved. If we do nothing, then nothing will change. This is about the survival of our whole way of life. Because if we do nothing, it will end.

"Now you know, without question, that powers and motive exist far beyond the people in this room. There are Authorities to match. Not since the time of the Dinosaurs has the choice been so clear. Adapt or die. We are here to make sure you know that. If you will not Perish, then grow. Everyone who has looked into it independently for the last fifty years are in agreement, and yet the problem grows worse."

"Will the Delegate from Hope Island yield for a question?"

Kwame smiled, just a tiny amount, and looked up. The US Ambassador had spoken. "I will."

The Ambassador leaned forward. "Unquestionably, taking care of the environment is an important issue that should be discussed. But even you must concede that this is a very difficult matter to simply solve. Millions of people could be put at risk by the loss of income, the loss of work..."

"These things are coming anyway." Kwame put in. "Agriculture is the largest industry on the planet. Heatwaves have caused an unprecedented streak of crop failures, to say nothing of the cropland and orchards wiped out by hurricanes. Hurricanes have increased dramatically in frequency and force due to Global Warming. Estimates say that if things don't change, and I mean dramatically, more than a fifth of the world's economies is going to be spent just on cleaning up after natural disasters caused by our actions. And that's not even counting the food shortages, epidemics, water shortages and millions of displaced refugees. What's the economic policy on that?"

The Ambassador didn't respond to the question. "We've tried to force environmental protection measures before. Carbon Taxes have come up in a number of countries to try and motivate people to reduce their carbon footprint. But the fact is that a lot of people below the poverty line can't afford a new tax, no matter how well meaning."

"Due respect sir, but there are methods you can try other than increasing taxes." Kwame said.

"Granted, but I have plenty of similar examples, where efforts have proven unsuccessful, or have been found to cause too much trouble for the people who can handle it least."

"Well, setting aside the question of what innovating or upgrading to greener methods will cost, do you think that doing nothing will protect those poorer people? Food prices, fuel prices, water bills, medical costs... These prices go up faster than any tax ever has, and the situation being what it is, they're only going to cost more. Save a tree, save a dollar. It's that simple."

Gi tapped his wrist and handed forward a slip of paper. Kwame read it quickly. "And furthermore, Mr Ambassador; according to your public Internet biography, you personally went to Harvard Law School, a scholarship paid for in full by your trust fund before you attended your first semester. Your family is one of the wealthiest society families in Washington, and your family owns property in three different countries."

"Your point?"

"I'm a miner from Africa." Kwame said blandly. "Are you really the one to tell me that I have to be more considerate of those below the poverty line?"

There was a general laugh around the room at that.

The US Ambassador took it in stride. Attacks of that nature were common in any political arena. "My point was that it's not as simple as deciding to switch a factory and it's smokestacks off one day. That growth is there for a reason. That growth is there to provide for real people, with families and lives. Do you expect us to ignore them?"

"Mr Ambassador, with all respect, you would be amazed at how little I expect of you." Kwame said bluntly. "Measures to help the environment have been brought before your government, and indeed most governments in the world at one time or another. And with some exceptions, they were almost uniformly overruled, or watered down to the point of being ineffectual." Kwame said plainly. The assembled world dignitaries started to grumble at that.

"If that seems like a pretty loaded statement to make, here are some more scary numbers." Kwame said, not at all intimidated. "Since Kyoto was signed, not before, but since, global CO2 emissions from fossil fuel burning has increased thirty five percent. Oil and Coal industries in America spent $427 million on political campaign contributions in the first six months of 2008 alone. Europe's heatwave in 2003 was instrumental in causing 35,000 deaths, and the temperatures just keep going up every year. Scientists are predicting a six foot rise in the global sea level, which would put many coastal cities, and most of Florida, underwater. You guys called me in here because we redrew the world map. When Hope Island appeared you were panicked that the appearance of a new land would drown the coastlines of the world. Wait thirty years, and you'll have done it to yourselves!"

Deathly silence.

"You guys are frustrated at the gridlock of politics. And you're the actual politicians. Well, the frustration you guys feel trying to get something done is nothing compared to the frustration the rest of us feel. The man in the street can control how much he buys, or how much he recycles, but he cannot control national carbon emissions, set the price of fuel, or enforce emission standards on factories and businesses. That's supposed to be your job. The Planeteers exist, because nothing else worked. And we wash our hands of you."

The bold faced defiance caused uproar.

The Chairman banged his gavel hard. "Then would you be so good as to explain why you bothered to come and speak to us?"

"We did not come to speak to you..." Kwame said grandly, turning to face the omnipresent cameras pointing at him from every angle.

Outside, the gathered crowd looked at each other in shock as Kwame faced the camera, apparently peering out at all of them... "We came to talk to everyone else!"

The crowd outside cheered as he seemed to be talking directly to them.

Kwame vanished from the screen, and reappeared at the door a moment later. The ring of security fought to hold the crowds back as he came forward and addressed them. "We cannot wait for them to make decisions for us. We're past the point of waiting. This is not a political issue. This isn't a moral issue either. It's past that point now. It's about pure survival. Yes, we need Governments to stamp out illegal strip mining, curb industrial expenses; root out corruption. You can sign any petition, you can vote for any policy; but when it comes right down to it, everyone has to take responsibility for themselves. Nobody else will do it for you. Everyone agrees that somebody should do something. I'm here to tell you that that 'someone' is you. All of you. All of us. If people need big symbols to shock them out of complacency, then look to the Ocean. Did Hope Island get your attention? Then listen! The Power Is Yours!"

Roz hated going to the bank. It was all queuing up for hours, just to be told that she didn't have enough money. Like she didn't know that already.

This day was made marginally better by Michelle, her best friend. They had both been stuck in line for twenty minutes now.

"What's the hold-up?" Someone in the back of the line yelled. A few people yelled back for him to hush up. A few more people yelled in agreement with him.

"I hate that." Roz remarked to Michelle. "A hundred people in queue and someone at the back figures if you just yell at the room things will speed up."

"I know." Michelle agreed. "He's not wrong though. We've been in line for way longer than usual."

"I saw it on the news this morning." Roz explained. "There's been a run on a few banks. People are freaking out about the thing in the ocean."

"Yeah. Wasn't that something?"

"It's exciting, I'll admit."

"It's a news story. Tomorrow we'll forget it's there." Michelle said cynically.

"You see that guy Deka on the news? He tore strips out of the politicians."

"So do most politicians, reporters, whatever. I've heard enough people on the news with empty talk. Meanwhile, my son is demanding to know if the chips I bought him have the toy in the bottom of the packet, my daughter is ranting about how she doesn't have a thing to wear in her four wardrobes full of clothes, we need a new stereo..."

Over here.

Roz looked to the left for some reason. She heard... something. And there were four or five people looking in the same direction.

Over here.

"Did you hear that?" Roz asked, somewhat distracted.

"...and I've gained half a pound since Monday. So there's a new island in the ocean. It doesn't help me one bit. Like most things in the news, it's someone else's problem..."

Over here.

Michelle glanced around. No mistake. Other people were reacting to something. But only a few of them. They were looking off at a fixed point in the distance. Roz didn't even seem to be aware of her any more. "What is it? What are you looking at?" Michelle demanded.

"You don't hear that?" Roz said distantly.

"Hear what?"

Over here.

Roz could hear it, plain as day. It was a subtle whisper. A gentle tug on her mind.

Michelle was looking out the bank window. There were people in the street staring off into the same direction.

And then, unconcerned for the line or the bank, leaving her groceries at her feet, Roz started walking for the door. So did five or six other people.

"Roz? Roz, what's happening?" Michelle asked sharply.

It was happening all through the street. People were leaving their bags, leaving their pets... one or two were leaving their own children standing confused on the street. They all had the same look of wonder on their faces, like there was some music that only they could hear, and they wandered slowly toward the same destination.

Roz wasn't in any hurry. In fact, she seemed to be enjoying it. She was not alone. it was hard to tell at first. This was New York after all, people walked in large groups. but as Michelle followed her friend in open terror at what was happening; it became clear that it wasn't limited to a few people.

Over here.

Buskers on street corners left their money and their instruments, cab drivers left their cabs, meters still running, and motors still going, passengers in the backseats. They just stopped their cars, got out, and started walking.

They were not the only ones. Even if they couldn't hear whatever siren call was pulling the streaming crowds of people to their destination, people were curious, scared, wondering what was happening, and they followed along.

The walk took almost half an hour. Traffic in some streets were at a halt because of abandoned cars, but more because of people simply walking across the streets, not caring about traffic, or stop lights...

The crowd was getting bigger, and Michelle saw that she was not the only one looking around at them in panic. There were dozens of people, following the crowd, trying to snap everyone out of it, but almost all of them were simply walking, lost in the 'Pied Piper' spell that seemed to have fallen over thousands of people in New York City.

Over here.

They walked their way across town, ignoring subway, car and bus. They made their way to Central Park.

The crowd became thicker still, shoulder to shoulder the further they went.

And there, in the middle of Central park, was a small boy. And Michelle was stunned to realize that she had seen him on television. Ma-Ti stood in the middle of the park, relaxed and waiting, with a bright golden light glowing from his Ring.

Without saying a word to each other, the crowds sat down, on every side of Ma-Ti, leaving a circular open space about ten feet wide around him. Thousands of people, coming from every direction, sat down.

Michelle did so too, scared to stand out.

"Hello." Ma-Ti said warmly to them all. "My name is Ma-Ti, and we have much work ahead of us."

Michelle needed to know she wasn't alone in the crowd of zombies, and leaned over to a nearby Korean woman who didn't seem to be under the spell. "English?" New York was always a mix of cultures and languages. She needed to know if the woman could understand her.

The Korean woman apparently thought Michelle was asking about Ma-Ti. "Korean." She told Michelle.

Surprised, Michelle glanced around, looking for someone else. She noticed a Latino woman behind her. "Hablo ingles?"

"Espanol." The woman responded, not taking her eyes of Ma-Ti.

"If your neighbor plays his music too loud, you get annoyed, because you share a common boundary, and you owe it to each other to be respectful." Ma-Ti said. "We all have the responsibilities that come with being part of this planet. We can add nothing to it, nor can we take anything away. There is no such thing as someone else's problem. Not in this case. We have lost the proper view of things, and witness the result. The convenience of the world has left us in want; because we use things in seconds, and throw them away. Our momentary convenience becomes a planet wide inconvenience."

Michelle stopped looking around, hearing Ma-Ti speak; as if he was talking directly to her.

"Paradoxically, when we think we cannot make a difference, that's when we don't. I can see the question written across your hearts. You wonder if there's any point in trying. Can one person make a difference? If they do not try, then the answer is no."

It was a direct answer to what she'd been saying less than half an hour before, and Michelle felt her jaw drop. Somehow... she knew he'd been answering her.

"Much has been said about the Oil Spill in the Mediterranean sea. How much oil was spilled there was never fully realized, as The Corporation kept the records sealed and private. Years before, BP had a larger oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Two hundred and five million gallons was lost there. We all saw the oil pouring out of the ground for three straight months. But if it had never happened, and all that oil was drilled and collected as planned... the United States alone would have gone through it in less than Seven Hours." Ma-Ti said clearly, pounding each word into their brains.

Michelle didn't know that. She found the thought staggering, and she sat next to her friend, her fears forgotten.

"We're all in this together. Making a change comes from you. Making a change does not need to go to extremes. Being responsible does not mean denying yourself. It does not require you making yourselves miserable. All that is required is that you show respect. respect for your neighbors on this planet. Respect for resources. For the air you breathe. For the water you drink. Because you won't get them back, and you cannot put back half as much as you can take. Remember that every time you use a tissue, or a piece of paper, you're using a tree that once grew, and is now shredded to give you convenience. Whenever you toss out a disposable cup of coffee, remember that a full third of the planet has no access to clean drinking water. Whenever you fill your bin, remember that it isn't going far."

Central Park was dead silent, expect for his voice. Michelle strained her eyes, and realized that the boy didn't have a microphone or a speaker… she wasn't even sure his lips were moving.

"Change the way you think. Change the way you use. The answer is not to use different products, or different methods, the answer is to use less. My friend Gi is right. Using an energy efficient bulb saves power. Turning off a light saves so much more. Using tissues that use recycled material saves trees. Using a handkerchief uses so much more. There is nothing I can do that can force you to do so. There is no law that can force you to think of the future. This has to come from you. The resources the Planet has to offer are the only reason we can sustain life. I ask you now, do not waste Life! The Power Is Yours!"

The press reaction to the UN had barely ended before Ma-Ti's impromptu speech; which someone in the press had dubbed 'The Sermon in the Park'.

And immediately after that was Gi's appearance at a hastily arranged MIT conference. While those in such circles had always watched MIT with interest, looking for the latest idea to invest in, the notion of a worldwide instant celebrity like Gi giving a speech made sure that it was standing room only.

"Manufacturing plants refine raw materials. By the time products make it to the shelves, to us; ninety eight percent of it is cast off or filtered out, taken straight to landfills. Even if the majority of disposable produce is recycled, a percentage of it will not be. Something I didn't know before I started this was that a huge percentage of plastic bottles can't be recycled, whereas glass can. Using recycled products is good, using fewer products is better still."

The crowd was attentive. Gi smiled at them. "But that's not what you came here to talk about, is it?" She said ruefully. "There's no secret to the fact that a new idea can change the whole world. And this is the place for the big Ideas."

Most of her audience was from MIT, similar institutes or universities, or technology firms and industries. Gi had calmly articulated exactly what they all felt, and they applauded.

"Who here has heard of Joesph Lister?" Gi asked. A few people put their hands up. "Those of you who don't know, he's the man who revolutionized the hospital system. In the 1800's, germs and bacteria weren't well known. Doctors went straight from the morgue to the maternity ward and didn't know to wash their hands. You check into a hospital to fix one thing, you left with everything else. Joseph Lister was the man who realized that using soap could stop the spread of infectious disease in hospitals. His evidence made it mandatory to wash all surgical equipment in soap between operations. Disease rates dropped, and survival rates in hospitals skyrocketed. One man made a breakthrough, and saved uncounted lives."

Though she was talking about a breakthrough that happened centuries before, everyone applauded.

"Me and the other Planeteers are talking about successes, and positive developments, but the fact is they are a minority. The world is hurtling toward certain destruction. We don't just need a solution; we need a miracle. When we announced what we were about, and it became clear what we could do, many people were terrified, wondering if we were going to be... I think the headline called us "Nature's Hit-Squad" sent to thin out humanity, so that the earth could live. Who knows? It may yet come to that, but I'm here to tell you right now, there is a better way!"

They applauded that, but not as strongly. The fear of what The Planeteers represented was never far away from anyone's mind.

"Once upon a time, India had the same problem the world now has." Gi said. "Too many people, an infrastructure that couldn't handle it, and not enough food to go around. Then a man came up with a solution. His name was Norman Borlaug, who won himself the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970, and died in 2009. He was considered to be the father of the Green Revolution. In 1968, India was starving to death. He saw that wheat was top heavy, and bred a variant called 'Dwarf Wheat'. One man created an innovation that saved a billion lives. It took up less space in the fields, and the wheat crop increased from eleven million tons to sixty million tons annually. There are always alternatives!"

It was more than an uplifting story, it was a relief to everyone afraid of them, and the cheering came back strong.

"We have with us today, representatives from the press, reporting what you have to offer this year to the whole world." Gi continued. "And here are a few more things that they should keep in mind.

"One year of Sunday newspapers, produced by the New York Times, is responsible for the destruction and consumption of more than three million, nine hundred thousand trees. More people get their news online now than ever before. Those trees need never be cut down.

"200 million ebooks, bought for a fraction of the price of hard back books, will save three million, two hundred thousand trees.

"Google is currently building electric cars, green technologies, and the world's largest Solar Tower Power Plant!

"China has just completed construction of the Pearl River Tower. The first of a new generation of super-tall skyscrapers, which uses less than half the regular power of a typical skyscraper, and draws power from the wind and sun around it, simply by having a new design that channels wind into turbines, as part of the structure.

"Right here in MIT, the Nocera Group recently developed an artificial leaf. When placed in a single gallon of water and some sunlight, it can chemically generate enough electricity to power a house for a full day by artificial photosynthesis. It's the size of a playing card; and it's still being refined to generate more, even now.

"These developments were made without anyone ordering them to. The technology simply made progress happen." Gi finished. "A new idea can change the world, and do it before anyone knows it's changing!"

The audience applauded cheerfully, their enthusiasm building with every piece of good news.

"For all our talk about how action has to be taken at the individual level, regardless of what Governments do, the fact is that government action has made a difference." Gi called, and started a new list.

"The nation of Spain currently gets forty percent of its power from wind turbines.

"Australia, Argentina, Ireland and the UK have completely phased out the incandescent light bulb, and replaced them with energy saver bulbs, which use only a fifth of the power. And even that is high compared with LED lights, which are now commercially available in many forms.

"And most notable, is the successful phasing out of harmful aerosol chemicals across the whole world; thus reversing the hole in the ozone layer. The problems that face us today can be beaten!"

The audience whooped at that. Talking about successes was always a great way to whip up the crowd.

Gi was never one for public speaking. The notion that she was succeeding in this task was more than a little exciting. Gi had never felt as naturally high in her life as the crowd responded to what she was saying. "Using renewable energy sources is a necessity. While the facts about climate change and global warming have been argued and re-argued endlessly since the theory was first suggested, one thing that all people agree on is that fossil fuels are a non-renewable resource, and it currently stands as the core of our entire civilization. Even if you do not accept Global Warming as a concern, there is no question that one day, and likely one day very soon, we will run... out. It's as simple as that. Making the shift to greener, renewable energy is not a bad idea economically. It's an investment. The day will come when we run out of oil, and whichever company, whichever nation, whichever society has an alternative in place, will be the only society left that's not sent back to the stone age."

Her audience burst into spontaneous applause.

"It's a big ask. But you've already proven that you're up to the task. Four out of five children in the world now have access to schooling. More than at any other time in human history." Gi continued. "Innovation and imagination are the most renewable resources we have! All it takes is one breakthrough. All it took was one breakthrough about microchips, and the world went from clockwork watches to Bluetooth. All it took was one breakthrough about bread mold, and the world went from a fatal cold and flu season to antibiotics. Imagine how any one of you could change the world tomorrow, with one new idea."

The audience applauded again, stronger this time.

"For all the things I can do, the majority of this is over my head." Gi admitted. "We have the finest minds in the world coming to this place, and several others. You may be here to learn. But you're here to think also. More things are invented in the classrooms and dormitories of Harvard, MIT and Yale than any other place in the world, by up and coming geniuses with ideas."

The crowd whooped, ecstatic.

"It's hard to get momentum to save the world we live on, because it means living in a way other than we have been for two hundred years. Ideas, imagination and innovation are the most renewable resources there are! The Power Is Yours!"

The standing ovation of the audience was matched with the giddy relief that Gi herself was showing, ecstatic that she had pulled it off.

The head of the department, who was overseeing the event, stepped up as Gi finished. "Well, Miss Takashi, we'd like to thank you for agreeing to speak for us today. In response to your last point, about how we often invent new technologies here, we'd like to show you something."

The assembled crowd, plus Gi, went out to the Quad behind the main building. There was something large there, hidden under a huge drop-cloth.

Gi saw the shape of it and her stomach lurched. She knew.

The cloth was pulled away dramatically, and there it was.

It was like the Wave Rider, only wider in the sides, and shorter in the wings. The tail was high, and the hatch was actually a dome, which covered the top third of the craft. It was amphibious, with a set of wheels set into the water-skids. It was painted a full burnished yellow, and had solar panels all over it, with twin fans set into the wings and tail-fins.

Written on the front in flowing decal script was her name: Geo-Cruiser.

Gi felt her jaw drop. "It's beautiful."

The head of the department smiled. "It's yours."

The audience made sounds of agreement.

Gi twitched. "Just like that?"

"Well, you're the only person who could use it. A zero emission aircraft isn't difficult, but getting one that can take of on its own, and fly long distance, that's a good deal harder. You did it. So when you made us an offer, we worked round the clock to make everything else perfect. It's state-of-the-art. And it's not like your power source is something that can be reproduced, so it'll be the only one ever sold."

Gi gestured at the solar panels. "Maybe someday." She sighed. "Thank you! Thank you all!"

Applause.

Gi grinned and punched the air. "Geeks Rule!"

That one made the crowd whoop and cheer.

Wrigley Field had been transformed. The diamond was covered with a big stage, with the Planeteers front and center. A large above ground pool had been put in front of the stage, the water almost level with the platform.

Kwame was on first, stepping up to the microphone. "Hello New York!"

The crowd cheered.

"My name is Kwame Deka. And three months ago, I was just like you. just making a living, hoping to help out where I could. And now, here we are. All of us! This is the first of thirty concerts organized. It's the latest to follow the Trend of the Live Aid concerts; and while the numbers for this one aren't in yet, here are a few things about the Live Aid concerts that you might like to hear:

"The goal was to raise one and a half million dollars. Instead, more than two hundred and thirty million dollars was raised by Live Aid to combat starvation in Ethiopia. Pledges that came in from the more than one and a half billion people who were watching on television and satellite viewers. The largest audience of the time. More than seventy of the most widely known and celebrated musicians, who volunteered their performances for free, before a crowd of one hundred and sixty two thousand people in just two of the concerts alone. And all accounts say that this is going to be so much bigger!"

The crowd whooped, more from the electricity of the audience and the celebrities on stage than anything else.

"We've already changed the face of the world. Now we're going to change the shape of the future! Don't ever doubt that it can be done, because you've already done it! You've come here tonight, just like they did, to see something you've never seen before, and I can promise you that."

The crowd was screaming again, almost delirious in anticipation.

"We all came here for different reasons, but here are a few things you might like to know. Ticket sales tonight, from this concert alone, have raised over half a million dollars, which will be invested to the last dollar in alternative energy resources, recycling technologies, conservation efforts, and help funds for people displaced by natural disasters... and none of that is even counting the donation bins you've got outside. And none of that is including the phone in donations, and the online donations coming from all over the world. Congratulations!"

The crowd roared again, never really quieting

"You did it all without being asked. You did it all without a petition going around, or an election demanding votes. You did it all by yourselves, and you did make a difference in the world! No taxes, no rallies, no fighting, no wars. You simply made the effort, and made a difference! The Power is Yours!"

The crowd roared.

"And while we're on the subject..." Kwame took a breath. "Here are a few more things that you might like to know."

"The United Nations Environment Programme has a worldwide campaign going to plant a billion trees a year, with more than 170 countries in the world registering the plantation of a total of over eleven billion new trees so far.

"Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia and Slovenia have recently created the world's first five-country protected area; a nature preserve across five international borders.

"Thirteen percent of the earth's land mass has been designated national Parkland, and that's not even counting Hope Island.

"South Korea has launched a massive reforestation effort, returning sixty five percent of their country to forest land.

"Costa Rica disbanded its army entirely and devoted much of those resources to conversation and eco-tourism.

"Solar is now the fastest growing Energy Industry in the USA.

"Germany has declared that all it's Nuclear plants will be shut down by 2022.

"Scotland is working to get one hundred percent renewable electricity by 2025, having completely smashed its planned target of fifty percent Green Energy already!

"More than two and a half million jobs have been created in five countries that have made renewable energy a priority.

"Ladies and Gentlemen..." Kwame brought it to a finish. "Welcome to the future!"

The crowd roared, but they knew what was coming next.

"But anyway, you didn't come here to listen to me." Kwame downplayed. "You've probably heard… we've got a few friends joining us tonight."

The crowd went berserk again.

"Please welcome a celebrated man, and a real activist. I hope you don't mind, we asked him to bring his friends... and their instruments."

The crowd roared again, getting louder.

The crowd roared as the first of many superstars came out and shook Kwame's hand, and then the rest of the Planeteers. Gi walked up to him and threw her arms around his shoulders, giving him a deep kiss which lasted for half a second, almost dislodging the colored glasses.

The crowd laughed as Wheeler came up behind Gi and pulled her away gently, hamming it up for the crowd.

The singer turned to the crowd, at ease in the spotlight. "Y'know, there's not a day goes by when I don't look around and wonder what the hell an Irish kid like me is doing in front of sixty thousand screaming people." He winked at Gi. "Go with it gorgeous, it gets easier!"

And with that, the crowd was drowned out as the music exploded; starting with a heavy riff and the stadium erupted into music.

Johnny take a walk
With your sister the moon
Let her pale light in
To fill up your room
You've been living underground
Eating from a can
You've been running away
From what you don't understand...
Love

She's slipping
You're sliding down
She'll be there
When you
hit the ground

It's all right, it's all right, it's all right
She moves in mysterious ways
It's all right, it's all right, it's all right
She moves in mysterious ways
O-o-oh

Wheeler jumped forward, pulling Linka with him. He gave her a twirl and they were almost dancing for a second before she broke free, and the two of them lifted their rings, timing it perfectly with the music.

A burst of flame flung itself upward from the stage, and was guided by the wind, flying around the stadium, clearly under conscious control. It was a fireworks show that did not die out, the flame blazing brighter and wilder, doing a slow lap around the stadium like a phoenix in flight.

Johnny take a dive
With your sister in the rain
Let her talk about the things
You can't explain
To touch is to heal
To hurt is to steal
If you want to kiss the sky
Better learn how to kneel
On your knees boy

She's the wave
She turns the tide
She sees the man inside the child
Yeah

Kwame and Gi moved to flank their guest on either side, guiding him to the front of the stage, as the water erupted suddenly into a standing position. The ground beneath lurched upward too, and there was suddenly a new stage, a few feet higher, with two waves held in check on either side of it.

Unafraid, the Superstar jumped out onto the new platform, and it rose further and further in the air, the water keeping pace with it, the rope of white hot flame curling around it like a living snake till the superstar was framed perfectly, bringing it into the big finish!

It's all right, it's all right, it's all right
She moves in mysterious ways
It's all right, it's all right, it's all right
She moves in mysterious ways
It's all right, it's all right, it's all right
lift my days, light up my nights
Love

Lift my days! Light up my nights!

Lift my days! Light up my nights!

Lift my days! Light up my nights!

The Crowd was shrieking, completely out of their heads at the impossible show.

I go where the Spirit moves me, and I am surprised. There are avenues I had not suspected; things I have never seen before.

Creation's ultimate advantage over destruction is innovation. Life is always growing and changing. And the humans know this better than anyone.

The human circle is buzzing with its own revelations. Power they'd not feared, possibilities they'd not known. I see things changing across their world. I feel the energy shift. They know what they have done. They know how close things are. They can see the cracks spreading through their way of doing things.

I have been struck by destruction before; when great lizards walked my lands. I was cold for a time. But I survived. I will survive. What remains to be seen, is how many can be saved.

I go where the spirit moves me, and wait to see what happens next.

It's a lesson in hope; that they can take me by surprise. I look again across their great cities, and marvel at these tiny creatures that make things so much bigger than they are. I would truly hate to lose them.

I achieved what I set out to achieve. I gave notice of my intent. I demonstrated a fraction of my power. I moved the balance back toward the center. They are always changing. It may yet prove fruitless.

For now, all I can do is wait and see.

END

AN: I made an effort not to name names in the concert scene, though I don't imagine there's anyone who wouldn't get who I meant. I figured they'd be the first ones on board with a 'save the world' concert. Needless to say, I don't own them either.

The actions of the Planeteers in this chapter were largely a way to talk about the numbers, but I figured anyone who could redraw world maps might be a pretty recognizable celebrity.

I hope that laying out all the stats and numbers wasn't too heavy; but I wanted to end on education.

At the end of every episode of the cartoon, there would be a standalone scene where they would talk about something you can do to help the environment, and a few facts you can remember.

I wanted something that would do that, and round out the story, which is was pretty well finished. The hardest part of this chapter was figuring out which factoids to leave out.

I know that a number of things I have said in this particular chapter are somewhat controversial. The Internet is full of scary statistics about the environment. References to The Corporation and Planeteers aside, the numbers you find in this story are as close to accurate as I can find.

Another thing I wanted to underline is that there are positive developments, and that the majority of things that can be done to combat this problem happen at the local, personal level, and not the international political one. This chapter was not meant to be anti-government, but rather to highlight the things people do to help the environment without waiting for someone else to do it for them, or tell them to do it.

With that in mind, this story is officially done. Many thanks to everyone who reviewed and I hope you'll let others know if you like it.